Water-motor.



E. E. HANKEN.

WATER MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.1s.191s.

Patented Mal-y 29, 1917'.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

inventor? Attorneys,

mr mmm: versus co.. Hom-uma.. wAsmNurpN, n c.

E. E. HANKEN.

WATER MOTOR.

APPLICATION man 1AN.xs, 1916.

Patented May 29, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Winesses i fdnkm Attorneys E. E HANKEN.

WATER MOTOR.

APPLlcATloN FILED 1AN.18.1916.

- L, Patented May 29, 1.917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Attorneys 9 EDWARD E. HANKEN, F APPLETON CITY, MISSOURI.

WATER-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 193W.

Application led January 18, 1916. Serial No. 72,758.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD E. HANKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Appleton City, in the county of St. Clair and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Water-Motor, of which the folH lowing is a specication.

The present invention appertains to Water motors or wheels, and aims to provide a l novel and improved apparatus for utilizing the current of water in a river or other stream, as power for operating an electric current generator, mill or other machine, whereby inexpensive power may be had.

The present invention is more in the nature of a rotatable dam, than the ordinary under shot water wheel used in connection with a dam, and relying simply upon the impinging of the water against the paddles.

` The present wheel is adapted to be mounted in the stream itself, so that its lowermost blades or paddles tend to obstruct the flow of water down the stream, thus acting as a yieldable dam, and affording congf'f. siderable power. Furthermore, the wheel in acting as a dam, will back up the water, to

raise the level thereof, and thus to increase the power and effectiveness of the wheel.

The invention also has for its object the provision of a water wheel of novel and improved construction, whereby it will fulfil the necessary conditions, and it is also the object of the invention to provide novel means for mounting the wheel for vertical .lif adjustment, with its axle continually above the water.

With the foregoing and other objects in 'View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus employing two water wheels, portions being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a detail view, partially in section, of the flexible connection between the axle of one wheel and the shaft driven thereby.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental longitudinal section of one of the water wheels, portions being broken away.

Figs. 6 and 7 are cross sections of the wheel taken on the respective lines 6 6 and 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a plan view 'illustrating another means for mounting the water wheel.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8, the near pier being removed.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section illustrating a modification.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a pair of the water wheels are employed, in coupled relation, but it is to be understood that any suit able number of wheels can be employed to span a stream, and if the stream is navigable, a suitable channel or set of locks can be provided to enable boats to pass the structure. rThe structure is in the nature of a dam extending transversely of the stream, and embodies a suitable number of piers or foundations 1 of concrete or other appropriate material, between which the water fiows. The water wheels are supported between the piers to provide rotatable dams therebetween, tending to stop the fiow of water. Mounted upon the piers 1 are columns 2, each having a metallic shell 3 set on end upon the pier, provided with a filling 4 of concrete united with the pier, to provide a substantial structure. The end piers 1 each have a pair of the columns 2 which are arranged adjacent and parallel with one another, while the intermediate pier 1 has three columns 2, since the intermediate pier must have provision for the axles of the two water wheels. The columns 2 are strengthened by braces connecting them with the piers, and said braces embody metallic shells 5 attached to the shells 3 of the columns, and having the fillings 6 of concrete united with the piers and fillings 4 of the columns. Thus, after the piers are completed by means of coffer dams, or the like, the shells 3 and 5 are placed thereon, and are filled with the concrete, so that the concrete filling or fillings will unite with the piers, and thus provide an integral concrete structure. The upper ends of the columns 2 of each pier are connected by a yoke beam 7, to assist in strengthening the columns.

A water wheel 8 is mounted for rotation Cil between a pair of piers, and as illustrated comprises a hollow cylindrical drum whose periphery 9 is provided with longitudinal radial blades or paddles 10. The water wheel is made of any suitable size, the length and diameter thereof depending upon the conditions, and has an axle 11 whose terminals are journaled in bearings 12 mounted for vertical sliding movement between the columns 2 of the respective pairs. In order to guide the bearings 12 for vertical movement, the adjacent walls or members of the shells 3 are constructed of channel irons 13 forming guides. Each bearing 12 is composed of lower and upper sections 1.2a and 12", respectively, having opposite portions 12C working within the guides 13. The sections of the bearing are clamped together by bolts, whereby the sections can be detached readily, and the bearing is of cruciform contour in plan, having the portions 12c which work in the guides 13, and other portions which project from between the guides. r)The axle 11 is journaled between the sections of the bearing, and the lower section 121L has a tapered recess or opening 12d in which is fitted a block' lt providing a seat for the shaft 11.

The blocks 14 have depending lugs 15 fitting in the sockets 16 provided in the upper ends of upstanding or upwardly projecting plunger-s 17 between the respective columns 2. Each plunger 17 works within a cylinder 18 embedded in the pier 1, and the cylinder may constitute a portion of a hydraulic ram or may be a pressure fluid cylinder', whereby the plunger 17 can be forcibly raised when desired, and under the control of an operator. At any rate, suitable means are provided for raising the plungers 17 when desired, for raising the bearings 12, and the water wheel carried thereby, to lift the wheel out of the water, or to adjust the wheel to different vertical positions, when the water level rises and falls.

frs a means for supportingl the bearings 12 at a normal position, a column of blocks 19 is provided between each pair of columns 2, and are disposed one upon the other upon the pier, said blocks 19 being of cruciform contour so that certain portions thereof fit within the guides 13, while others project from between the guides. rlhe blocks 19 have central apertures or openings 20 'I through which the plungers 17 extend. rl`he blocks can be built up to the desired height, the blocks being readily applied and removed. rlhus, under ordinary conditions, when the plungers 17 are retracted, the bearings 12 seat upon the blocks 19, and this supports the water wheel at the desired normal position, whereby the lower paddles or blades tend to obstruct the flow of water between the piers. lWhen the plungers 1,7 are raised, this elevates Athe wheel, as when the water level rises during high water, or the wheel can be raised for `purpose of repairs. l/Vhen repairs or adjustments to the shaft or bearings are necessary, the upper sections 12b of the bearings can be detached, which will let the lower sections 12a seat upon the blocks 19, and then by raising` the plungers 17, the blocks 111 arev raised out of the secg tions 12a for jacking up the axle 11. This permits the desired repairs to be made conveniently.

Coming to the construction'of the water wheel, which is best illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, there is provided apair of end hubs 21 secured upon the aXle 11, and any suitable number of intermediate hubs 22, the

hubs being of disk-form, andbeing `spaced at suitable distances apart. Attached to each of the end hubs 21 is a set of radial spokes 23 of liron or other suitable material, and attached to each of the hubs 22 is a set of radial spokes 211 arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the hub 22 and constructed of angle iron or other suitable material. vAttached by rivetsor otherwise to the outer ends of each set of end spokes 23 is a ring 25'of `angle iron or other material, and riveted or otherwise attached to the outer ends of each set of spokes 24 is a ring 26 of l`iron or other suitable'stock. The ring 26 is preferably riveted between the outer ends of the pairs of spokes 211. Longitudinal stays orties 27 of angle iron or other suitable stock connect the rings 25 and 26, and the framework can be otherwise braced to render itthoroughly rigid. The periphery9 of the drum is constructed of sheet metal, wood, a combination of the two, or other' suitable material and is secured upon the rings 25-26 and-ties 27, while the ends 9 of the drum constructed of sheetmetal, wood, a combination of the two, or the like, are attached to the end spokes 23. `One end of the drum is provided with a manhole M, permitting a man to enter the drum for making repairs, and permitting a heater of any suitable sortto be inserted within the drum and hung from the axle for heating the interior of the drum to prevent the accumulation of an ice crust upon the drum, the drum being kept warm during freezing weather.

Secured upon the periphery of the drum are end rings 28 of angle iron surrounding the rings 25, and rings 29, one for each ringl 26, are secured upon the periphery of the drum, the rings 29 being of T-iron, 'and the periphery of the drum being clamped between the rings 25-28 and 26-29. The pairs of rings are preferably secured together to clamp the periphery lof the drum therebetween. Attached tothe rings 2S outstanding or radial arms 30 of iron, and attached to the opposite sides of each ring 29 are pairs of outstanding angle iron metal or other suitable material are attached to the respective arms and 81, and diagonal braces are disposed between the arms of each set to hold the blades in fixed position relative to the drum. 'W eb plates l0 are preferably secured to the arms 30 at the remote ends of the blades l0 to conne the water between them.

In order to brace the intermediate spokes of each set, and to thereby strengthen the drum between its ends, a chordally disposed tie rod is disposed between each airs and has an eye Se at one end pivoted upon a ri'vet or other pivot element engaged through one pair of spokes 2e, there being one of the rods 83 for each pair of said spokes, and the free terminal of the rod 33 projects between the companion pair of spokes 2l outside of the respective pivot of the next rod 33, as seen in Fig. 7. jWashers or blocks 3G are mounted slidably upon the free terminals of the rods 33 and bear against the spokes 2li, and nuts 27 are threaded upon the free terminals of the rods 33 and bear against the blocks 36, whereby when all of the nuts 37 are tightened, there is tendency to draw the spokes toward one another, thereby holding them fast to the hub 22, and strengthen ing the framework of the drun a means for draining out any water which seeps into or otherwise enters the drum, a funnel-shaped receptacle 38 is attached to one of the tie members 27 between the two sets of spokes, there preferably being one of the receptacles 38 between all of the sets of spokes. Attached to the spout portion of the receptacle QQ is a pipe or UU hose 39 which is led through one end of the drum. vvl/hen the wheel is rotated, any watu' which enters the drum will naturally run to tl e lewe portion thereof, and as the receptacle 3S is moved to and from its lowermost position, it catches the water and raises it with the receptacle 3S, and when the recen acle 3S is inclined or moved upnardly .l sufficiently, the water will drain therefrom through the pipe 39 to the exterior 'of the drum, thereby ridding the drum of water.

innular troughs 40 are attached to the ends of the drum adjacent the periphery thereof, and catch any water which tends to flow from the periphery of the drum or the blades over the ends of the drum, to direct the water downwardly within the troughs 40, and preventing the water from flowing down the ends of the drum to the axle.

The axle ll of one wheel can be connected Yto an electric current generator, mill or other machine for operating it by water ower, thus affording cheap power. rlhus, the axle -radial length, as necessary.

the

ll is connected by a universal joint All with a shaft 42 having a telescopic or sliding corr nection with another shaft el?) which is in turn connected by a. universal joint il with the shaft e5 upon the shore or at one side of the stream. The universal joints eli and lt permit the shafts 2f-lf3 to swing upwardly and downwardly when the axle is raised and lowered, and the sliding connection between the axle ll' and shaft e5 can be extended and contracted as necessary.

rlhe axles ll of the two wheels are connected, whereby the power derived' from both wheels can be taken from one axle, and the axles can be readily connected together by means of sprocket wheels 58 secured thereon and around which is trained an er less sprocket chain 50. @ther conne between the axles can be employed. be noted that the axles are ofi gitudinal alinement, wiereby the axles overlapped, for purpose of connecting the and to provide a compact znfrangenient. rfh-a intermediate pier has three columns, brtween which the bearings of the axles are disposed. When there are a large numb-e'- of wheels, the intermediate piers nd all c parts are the same as shown at the center of Fig. l, which enables any number of vfhee to be coupled together, so as to stream. lf the stream is deeper at coi points than at others, the diameters of wheels can be made different, or the paddles or blades can be increased or diminished in lf the iiov. at one side of the stream is faster than at the other side, the structure can be arranged at an angle, so as to tend to divert the w ter to that side where the flow is slowest, thus rendering the i w approximately uniform throughout the width of the stream.

ln Figs. 8 and 9, a different means is illustrated for mounting the .vater wheel so that it can move upwardly and dow wardly with its axle l1" continually above the water. Thus, the terminals of the axle il are jcurnaled in bearings elfi', a pair of links e8 being pivoted, as at e9, to each bearing 47, and the other ends of the links 4S being pivoted, as at 51, to a bearing `iournaled upon a drive shaft 52. This drive shaft can be mounted for rotation in any suitable manner, as for example, in bearings 53 mounted upon piers 54: between which the water wheel is located. The axle 1l can be connected with the shaft 5e in any suitable manner, in order that the rotation of the wheel will actuate the shaft 52 from which the power can be taken. Thus, sprocket wheels 55 and 56 can be secured to the axle 11 and shaft 52, respectively, and an endless sprocket chain 57 can be trained around the sprocket wheels. rlhe links t8 are swingable upwardly and downwardly t0 allow the wheel to move vertically, with the wheel trailing in rear of the shaft 52, the water flowing in the direction oit the arrow in Fig. S. The links 1 8 in being pivoted to the bearings l? and 50 also permit the wheel to shift endwise slightly when necessary, the sprocket chain 57 being of such nature that the Gsprocket wheels can shiiit slightly out of a common planewithout the sprocket chain jumping'I oli;n of the sprocket wheels.

If the drum construction of wheel is used, the drum renders the wheel buoyant, since the drum will float upon the water, with only the lowermost blades projecting into the water, and the interior of the drum can be heated by any suitable n'ieans, to prevent the accumulation of ice thereon, although this feature need not be employed in the warmer climates, in which ease the drum is eliminated, and the skeleton Ytrame used without it. lf the drum is used, so asto i'loat upon the water, it will hold the axle continually above the water, and this will also hold the wheel in proper position relative to the water which operates it. The wheel is constructed suliieiently large so as not to be injured or put out of order by ice iloes, high water, and the like.

F ig. l0 illustrates how a second drum 90 can be provided within the main drum, to

provide a heating chamber 91 adjacent the periphery and ends of the main drum, whereby the entire interior of the main drum need not be heated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. ln a device of the character described, a pair of piers, a pair of columns carried by each pier, the adjacent sides of the columns having guideways, bearings between the columns and slidably engaging said guideways, a water wheel rotatable between the piers and having an axle journaled in said bearings, means for raising the bearings, and a column of removable blocks iittin g between the columns of each pair and having` portions engaging said guide ways to prevent the lateral displacementl of the blocks, the blocks being held in place when the bearings are seated thereon, and only being removable when the bearings are raised.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of piers, a pair of columns carried by Copies of this patent may be obtained for each pier, the adjacent walls oin the columns being in the loi-m of guide channels, bearings slidably engaging said channels, a water wheel between the piers having an axle journaled in said bearings, a column of blocks upon each pier and having portions fitting in the channels, the blocks having apertures, plungers extending through said apertures for raising the bearings, and cylinders for the plungers embedded within the piers.

3. A water wheel comprisiinT a buoyant hllow drum having blades ipon its periphery, a framework for the drinn within the saine and embodying a set ol spokes arranged in pairs, an axle, a hub secured to said axle to which said spokes are attached, rods having certain ends pivoted between the pairs of spokes and projecting between the companion pairs of spokes, and means upon the other ends of said rods engageable with the respective spokes for drawing the spokes together.

4. A water wheel comprising an axle, hubs secured thereon, sets of spokes attached to said hubs, rings attached to the outer ends oli said spokes, rings surrounding the aforesaid rings, a drum having its periphery clamped between the first mentioned and second mentioned rings and having ends attached to the end spokes, outstanding arms attached to the second mentioned rings, and longitudinal blades attached to said arms.

5. In a device of the character described, three piers, two water wheels disposed be tween the piers and having axles oset from one another, three columns carried by the intermediate pier, a pair of columns carried by each of the other piers, a pair of bearings for the adjacent ends of the axles slidable between the columns of the intermediate pier, bearings for the remote ends of the axles slidable between the last mentioned columns, means for adjusting said bearings` vertically, and mea-ns operatively connecting` the adjacent ends of said axles.

ln testimony that claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto a'l'lixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD E. HANKEN.

Witnesses:

' Ivy E. SIMPSON,

PHiLoMENA A. ROCKELLI.

ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

